Apparatus for plugging a seacock externally

ABSTRACT

This invention is directed to a thru-hull fitting or specifically a seacock which is below the normal waterline of a marine vessel and this invention provides an exterior plug to stop leakage and/or allow for maintenance of the interior hull valve, piping, and/or associated tubing without necessitating the need to haul out the vessel. The seacock plug includes a rubber bellows assembly; o-ring flange assembly, sealing wedge, and compression lead screw with T-handle that forms a watertight seal around the irregular interior shape hull fitting.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention applies to thru-hull fittings or specifically a seacock which is below the normal waterline of a marine vessel to prevent water intrusion by the application of an externally (water-side) applied plug device.

Related art consist primarily of circular plugs that are designed for a perfectly round hole. These plugs can be applied either internally or externally as the thru-hull is not equipped with an isolation valve for their intended above waterline use. Examples of circular plugs are taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,390,007 and 1,446,812 while a screw-type permanent plug is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,547. Non plugging, but protective caps are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 7,210,423.

Marine vessels have below water line penetrations, called seacocks or thru hull penetrations that allow for the flow of seawater from outside of the hull to the inside of the hull. These fittings normally have an isolation valve on the inside of the vessel and then are connected to various types of pipes and/or hoses to direct water for myriad uses such as engine cooling and head flushing. The seacock external fitting is circular in nature but typically has two 180° apart and raised sections (called fins in this work) that allow for a special tool to hold the fixture secure while assembling the complete device, typically with a threaded nut on the interior of the hull. These raised sections or fins make the hole unsuitable for normal round plugs because these two fins prevent the smooth and continuous formation of a watertight seal.

The round hull drain plugs are ubiquitous in the marine industry provide a smooth circular, typically rubber, gasket material that works well with correspondingly smooth circular thru hull fittings. These do not work in typical seacock fittings and as such maintenance of the internal valves, piping and associated hoses require the haul out of marine vessels to a dry dock or other such out of water configuration. This haul out is costly and can only be accomplished at special facilities for vessels that are not normally transported on trailers. This invention would typically apply to power boats of greater than 10 meters in length and nearly all fixed-keel sailboats.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The seacock external plug of the present invention provides for the novel ability to plug a thru-hull opening from the external or waterside of the fitting to allow for maintenance of the internal valves, piping and/or hoses while maintaining the marine vessel waterborne. The present invention does not modify or improve prior art for their intended purpose, however, similar attributes of the circular drain plug system as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,007 are used a small component of this invention in an entirely novel manner, specifically as a locking mechanism and not as a drain plug proper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures shown depict only exemplary configurations that may be employed for the present invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize variations to the figures presented herein. The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when read with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a typical marine vessel, in this case a sailboat, showing a seacock.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a seacock external fitting.

FIG. 3 is an isometric perspective view of this invention, the seacock plug, in proximity of the seacock and prior to installation.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of this invention, the seacock plug, unassembled

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of this invention, the seacock plug, fully assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures, exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described. Before proceeding to a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and alternate embodiments, several general comments should be made about the applicability and the scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention disclosed is applicable to a plurality of uses, such as but not limited to other devices where a plug is required for an irregular shaped inner area of a hole. Thus even though embodiments are described specifically to marine vessel hulls, the present invention is applicable to other uses or applications.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention 6 (not shown in FIG. 1) is usually installed below the waterline on the seacock 2 located on the hull 1 of a marine vessel. As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the seacock 2 is shown in isometric view where the outer flange 3 surrounds the smooth inner passage or hole 5, but is irregular in shape due to the raised pins 4 (two shown 180° apart) which fit to a special assembly tool when the seacock is install through the hull of the vessel.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, this invention 6 is designed to be inserted into seacock 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, this invention 6 is composed of a central threaded shaft 8, a flexible bellows assembly 7, a flexible beveled gasket 10, an external flange 9 with two concentric o-rings 11 partially embedded in a semi-circular groove machined into the interior side of flange 9, a locking nut 12 and a T-handle 13. As further illustrated in FIG. 4, this invention 6 is shown at the point of initial insertion into the seacock 2 external flange 3 with the limiting pins 4 being the first point of contact between this invention 6 and the seacock 2. The seacock 2 is shown installed flush on hull 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, this invention 6 is shown installed on seacock 2 with the bellows assembly 7 expanded and providing compressive holding power onto fins 4 of the internal circumference of seacock 2. The T-handle 13 being turned clockwise causes the threaded shaft 8 to compress the bellows assembly 7 and thusly cause its diameter to increase. The ribbed nature of the bellows assembly 7 ensures good friction between the bellows assembly 7 and the fins 4 of the seacock 2. After securely fixing the bellows assembly 7, the external flange 9 is turned clockwise along the threaded stem 8 until the wedge gasket 10 and two o-rings 11 form a seal against the seacock 2 outer flange 3. The gasket wedge 10 is compressed into the flange fillet of seacock 2 outer flange 3 and the 2 concentric o-rings 11 are compressed onto the seacock 2 outer flange 3. The locking nut 12 is then turned clockwise until firmly against the exterior flange 9 to ensure the seal is maintained. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the combination of three sealing surfaces, namely the gasket wedge 10 to the flange fillet of seacock 2 flange 3 and the 2 o-rings 11 to the flange 3 of the seacock 2 ensure a watertight seal. As further illustrated in FIG. 5 this invention 6 is superior to traditional plugs as traditional plugs are unable to form a watertight seal as shown by the gap left between the bellows assembly 7 and the seacock 2 flange 3 due to the irregular shape of the seacock 2 fins 4. 

1. Any seacock plug for use in below water line applications of marine vessels where an externally applied device provides for the watertight closure of a thru-hull fitting allowing for the operation and maintenance of the inboard valve, piping and associated hoses without the need for hauling the vessel out of the water
 2. The plug of claim 1, wherein the plug includes an external flange with a dual continuous o-ring attachable to the external surface of the marine vessel hull using the compressed nature of the attaching mechanism.
 3. The plug of claim 1, wherein contains a rubber bellows assembly that expands and conforms to the irregular shape, in particular a circular area with one or more raised features that prevent the normal circular seal.
 4. The plug of claim 1, wherein a screw type actuator with an external handle allows for the compression of the bellows and its associated expansion which provides for the locking of the assembly in the seacock fitting.
 5. The plug of claim 1, wherein the screwed type handle penetrates the external flange with an o-ring assembly to maintain watertight integrity.
 6. The plug of claim 1, wherein the hardware is manufactured of stainless steel, brass, bronze, high strength plastic or other type corrosion resistant materials provide for the suitable application in the harsh marine environment.
 7. The plug of claim 1, wherein the software is manufactured of synthetic rubber, Teflon or other suitable flexible and corrosion resistant material to provide for the watertight seal on the external flange and internal bellows assembly.
 8. The plug of claim 1, wherein is manufactured in various sizes such that a nominal external diameter consistent with the inside diameter of common seacock fittings taking into account the reduced diameter associated with the one or more raised sections of said seacock fittings.
 9. The plug of claim 1, wherein is manufactured of dimensions in claim 8 that when tightened provide sufficient external pressure to form and maintain a watertight seal until removed by the end user.
 10. The plug of claim 1, wherein can be applied by the end user by simply swimming to the seacock and installing the plug by holding it securely inserted with one hand and tightening with the other in a short but nominal amount of time. Other means of application may be accomplished which may include skin diving or SCUBA to name just two possible means.
 11. The plug of claim 1, wherein may be used with an optional lanyard and float that serves as a reminder of its installation as well as a safety device in case the object is dropped in the water. This lanyard and float will be manufactured with sufficient buoyancy to maintain the seacock plug floating on or near the surface.
 12. The plug of claim 1, wherein in particular the external flange of claim 2, contains an inner wedge shaped gasket that seals the outer portion of the commonly manufactured seacock fillet. Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred and alternate embodiments the intention is not limited to these specific embodiments. Minor variations to materials up construction and insubstantial differences in the various combinations of materials and methods of application may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art while remaining within the scope of the invention as claimed and equivalents. 